Since setting this up, I decided to take the "don't trust, verify" a little more seriously.
To test I could do it (with basic coding knowledge and an AI) I used Sparrow Wallet as a testing ground. Although I have a trust bias for the wallet based on what the community already helped me with, I wanted to verify its quality for myself - to do it for anything else I run on my node.
This included:
- Repo analysis: examining code bases, reviewing commit history, checking GPG signatures, and assessing community adoption.
- Reproducible build verification: Compiling the software from source, comparing my build against official releases, validating no hidden modifications exist.
- Hands on feature testing: testing in controlled environments, like using testnet for transaction testing.
I documented the whole process with the commands I used and the results they prompted (with screenshots) - which I might share eventually, although it's mainly for future reference.
From what I did - the wallet is solid (as I already thought I knew):
Reproducible builds are achievable - I got zero differences across hundreds of files between my source build and the official release. This is the gold standard that proves there's no hidden code in the distributed binaries.
GPG signature verification confirms the releases come from legitimate developers, not imposters or compromised distribution channels.
Live feature testing revealed current functionality - not just what's documented, but what actually works right now. Software changes, features get deprecated, and testing catches these real-world changes.
The process taught me that verification isn't just possible - it's practical. With basic tools, documentation, and some patience, you can actually confirm the software you're running matches its source code. Now I'm applying this same methodology to other tools in my stack.